Archive for the ‘
Parenting Challenges – Teens ’ Category

Debbie’s thirteen-year-old, Darren, is a poor behavior example for her younger children. She is constantly telling Darren to keep his hands to himself and let the younger children do things on their own. She tells him, “You’re not their parent,” because he tells the younger children what to do and tries to punish them. The younger children get frustrated with the bossiness of the older child. They don’t like how he is short with them and they whine at him to leave them alone or tell him “you can’t make me, you’re not my mother!”
In Debbie’s situation, there are... (Read More ...)

Brad’s fiancé, Rebecca is 40 and he is 46. Brad is divorced without kids and Rebecca has a fourteen-year-old son from a prior marriage. When they moved into Brad’s home, Rebecca’s son became difficult. He has rejected all prior suitors, not because he wants his parents to get back together, but to be the man of the house and to control mom. He even got upset when Rebecca asked him to give her away at the wedding, since he thought he was losing her. He doesn’t want her to see Brad and that is not going to happen. What can Brad and Rebecca do to assure him that he is important, he isn’t... (Read More ...)

While doing the laundry, Kelly discovers a folded up note in the pocket of her thirteen year old daughter’s jeans. She unfolds it and sees that it’s a note that a boy named Bobby was supposed to receive, but never did. Kelly folds it back up and sets it on her daughter’s dresser. Later that night, Kelly asks her daughter who Bobby was. Her daughter, blushing bright red now, explains that he’s “just a friend”. Kelly doesn’t bring it up the rest of the night, but wonders if there is anything serious between Bobby and her daughter.
Is your teen or preteen ready to move from puppy love to... (Read More ...)

When To Date
QUESTION:
I think that dating age depends on how mature and responsible a teenager is and should not be locked in by some age limit. I know some parents who think it should be whatever age the teen wants to start dating at. I am not quite that liberal though and think it should be a parental decision vs. the teen’s decision. What do you think? What dating standards did you have for your own children?
ANSWER:
Anyone who has read many of my advice columns knows that I regularly say, “There are no ‘rights’ and ‘wrongs’ in parenting, just ‘more effective’ and ‘less... (Read More ...)

You have a new teen driver who is excited to use the family car to drive to practice.
A couple friends on the team want to be picked up.
You’ve heard about teenage driving statistics.
You’ve seen coverage of teenage driving accidents on the news.
You’re concerned about teenage peer pressure while driving.
Would a Teen Driving Contract Agreement help your child avoid becoming one of those teenage driving statistics?
For most teens, driving is a symbol of their independence and a rite of passage to adulthood. But driving is not a right; it is a privilege that brings responsibility.... (Read More ...)

Do you remember your first teenage driving lessons?
They often consist mostly of parents screaming:
“Watch Out!”
“Slow Down!”
“You’re scaring me!”
You probably felt discouraged and your parents probably felt scared and frustrated.
Would you like to make your child’s first teenage driving lessons more positive?
Teaching your child to become a responsible teen driver has its challenges. There are great safety risks when you give control of a vehicle over to a learning teen driver. You need to realize that learning how to drive is not a right, it is a privilege. If you decide... (Read More ...)

How Can You Help With Teenage Problems When Your Teens Won’t Talk?
How Can You Help With Teenage Problems When Your Teens Won’t Talk
Do Conversations With Your Teens Sound Like This?
Jimmy, 15-years-old, just got home from soccer practice. “Tom is a jerk,” he fumed as he bounded through the door.
“Jim Cooper, you know better than to call people names. What is the problem?” demanded his mom, Kim.
Jim’s voice trembled with hurt as he angrily snapped, “He laughed and made fun me in front of everyone when I tripped and fell on the field today.”
“Well, kids can be cruel at... (Read More ...)

How Do I Prepare Teens to Leave the Nest?
Back to School Tips for Teens Entering High School
John is going be at the high school this year. There are so many different students. John seems to be more out spoken than he used to be and has started to back talk frequently. His parents are concerned that John is shutting down the lines of communication he once had with them. They are afraid he may get in with the “wrong crowd” and make some bad decisions.
Do you have a child transitioning from middle school to high school? If so, you will want to find ways to keep the lines of communication... (Read More ...)

How Do I Prepare My Teen to Leave the Nest?
Back to School Tips for Teens Headed to College
Amy is headed off college for the first time this Fall. She will be 3 hours away from home. It will be the first time she is that far away from her parents. Amy’s parents are concerned about their daughter. Will she make the right decisions? They have concerns about teenage drinking. Will she give into peer pressure? They hope the values that are important to them will remain with their daughter during her time at college.
Do you have a child headed off to college for the first time? ... (Read More ...)

Concerns About Teenage Drinking
Parents, Take the “Prom Promise”
Prom night and graduation parties are upon us. Many teens will take the “Prom Promise” to abstain from drug and alcohol use. Parents need to make a “Prom Promise” too, to be responsible parents that don’t intentionally or inadvertently encourage teen drinking.
Many parents think teenage drinking is inevitable, but it’s not. If parents believe all teens will drink, they are underestimating teens’ abilities to make responsible decisions. They are also making an excuse for abandoning their parental... (Read More ...)